Windrow harvester



Aug. 9, 1941. J. oMMoDT WINDROW HARVESTER Filed Dec. 3, 1958 2 SheetSnSheet l WENN m ldzzizas f/z/fzod Ev WMM@ ATTOR N EYS Aug. 19, 1941. J, QMMOD-r 2,253,044

WINDROW HARVESTER Filed Deo. 3, 1958 2 Sheng-sheet 2 e?. www. r

fr" I $2 m myfm@ ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 19, 1,941

UNITI-:D STATES PATENT oFFlcla.L

WINDROW HARVESTER Julius Ommodt, ButterfleldlMinn.

.Application December 3, 1938, Serial No. 243,845

Q 1 claim. (o1. 56-23) My invention relates to agricultural implements, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved windrow harvester.

An object of my invention is to provide a windrow harvester for cutting grain and the like and forming the cut material into windrows to facilitate thorough and even drying thereof. The windrow harvester is designed to be power propelled in advance of a tractor, as an example. The unit is designed to be pivotally connected with a supporting frame fixedly anchored to the tractor, and the windrow forming means are so arranged as to locate the windrow within the traction wheels of the machine so as 'to prevent damage to the cut grain. I also provide a windbreak in association with the windrow harvester.

In the accompanying drawings:

44 are also xedly related to the frame 38 through the medium of the lrivets 42, and include parallel runs 46, which have upstanding ends 48, seev Figure 3, pivotally related to their respective shafts 36 so that the frame I2 as a whole may pivot upon the shafts 36 as a unit for raising and lowering th sickle bar I4 forcutting the grain at different heights.

Referring to Figures 24 and 3, it will be noted that the axes of the shafts 36 are spaced considerably closer to the rear frame member 50 than to the sickle bar I4 so thatv the forward or leading side of the frame will be considerably heavier than the rear margin. Thus the forward side of the frame will tend to pivot downwardly,

which pivotal movement is restrained by means Figure 1 is a top plan view of my windrowharinvention, the windrow harvester I0 comprises a frame I2, the forward margin of` which comprises the usual sickle bar I4 provided with the usual sickle knife I6. Sickle bar I4 is provided with the usual guards I8, and the sickle knife I6 is operated in the usual reciprocatory manner for cutting the grain, or other standing growth. To each end run 26 of theframe I2 I mount a vertical frame 22 which supports one end of a reel 24. Reel 24 is xedly related to a shaft 26 journaled i'n bearing members 28 adjustable vertically of the vertical bars 30 ofthe frames- 22. Bearing members 28 may be made secure by set screws of a rope or cable 52 passing 'around a grooved wheel 54 pivotally mounted on one of the bars 48 and connected at one end with an eye 56 flxedly related to the rear frame 50. 'The other end'of y I4 isA an elevating canvas 58 which inclines up- 32. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the operating ref lation between the reel 24 and the sickle bar I4.

Frame I2 includes short transverse members` 34 to which and the end frame members 20 I connect shafts 36, whichshafts are arranged in axial alignment, but spaced in the manner of Figure 1. To the mount or frame 38, which is xedly secured to the tractor (notv shown) in l wardly from a position in the rear of the sickle bar. Elevating canvas 58 extends the full width of the frame I2 for collecting al1 the grain cut by the-knife I6. The canvas is supported on two rollers 60 and 62. Roller 60 has its ends rotatably journaled in the end frame member 20, while the roller 62 is rotatably journaled in the upper ends of vertical bars 64 riveted to the end frame members 20. The shaft 66, on which the roller 62 is mounted, is provided with a gear 68 arranged in mesh with a gear 'l0 rotatably journaled in a bracket 'I2 attached to the bar 64 by screws 14.

Gear 'l0 is xedly related to a sprocket I6 about which I position a chain 'I8 operating over a sprocket 86 keyed to a shaft 82. Rotation of the sprocket in the direction indicated by the arrow v84 lin Figure 3 will rotate the sprocket 68 in the direction of the arrow 86 for elevating the cut grain. Shaft 82 also carries a sprocket 88 about which I position a chain 90 which operates around the sprocket 92 lixedly related to the shaft 26 for driving the reel 24. Reel 24 is rotated in the directionV of the arrow 94.

the upper stretch of the cham 1s for holding One end of a the chain under proper tension.

tension spring |02 is connected with the ,bar 88 and its opposite`edges connect with a bracket |04 attached to the brace member L86. Shaft 82 ex- A sprocket-'ns isk'yed to thashaf'u n2 for connection lwith'a drive chain I8 passing around a sprocket |20 keyed to ashaft |22. Shaft |22 is operatively connected with a drive shaft |24 through the medium of a universal Joint |26.

Drive shaft |24 is driven by a suitable power Y take-off on the tractor (not shown). Thus rotay tion of the power shaft |24 will impart rotation to the shaft 82 which drives the chains 18 and 90 for operating the canvas 58 and the reel 24, respectively.

To one end of the shaft ||2 I connect a crank |28 which is operatively connected with the right angular arm |30 of a rock shaft |32 through the medium of a link |34. Rock shaft |32 is supported in bearings |36 and |38 anchored' to 'one of the end frame members 20. The forward end of the rock shaft |32 is provided with a right angular arm |40 pivotally connected at |42 with a pitman |44 connected with the sickle knife I6,

as at |46. Thus the sickle knife I6 will be reciprocated through the medium of the rock shaft |32.

Grain cut by the sickle I6 falls upon the canvas 58 and is elevated and dropped onto canvases |48 and |50 spaced to provide an opening |52 into which the grain is delivered for forming the windrow. The forward margins of the canvases |48 and |50'extend underneath the canvas 58 so as to be in -effective grain receiving relation with the elevating canvas. Canvas |48 operates upon rollers |54 and |56 rotating at right angles to the rollers 60 and 62. The forward end of the roller |54 is rotatably journaled in a post |58 riveted to a frame member |60 extending the full width of the frame |2 and riveted at its ends to the end frame members 20.

'Ihe rearend of the roller |54 is rotatably journaled in a bearing |62 anchored to the frame member 50. Roller |56 is 'rotatably journaled in the same manner as the roller |54, but includes a shaft extension |64 keyed to a gear |66 arranged in mesh with a gear |68 keyed to the shaft |22. Thus rotation of the shaft |22 will drive the canvas |48, which canvas travels with its upper face moving in the direction of the arrow |10 for4 moving the grain falling thereon into the opening |52.

Canvas ||'5 is mounted on rollers |12 and |14, which rollers are rotatably journaled in the same manner as the rollers |54 and |56. Roller |12 includes a shaft extension |16 provided with a sprocket |18 for connection with a chain |80 passing around a sprocket |82 keyed to the shaft |22. Canvas |50 travels with its upper run moving in the direction of the arrow |84 for moving cut grain falling thereon into the opening |52.

Figure 5 illustrates the windbreak, which comprises sections |86 and |88. Each section includes a wall |90 which may be attached to the end frame members by riveting or welding and in the same manner to diagonal braces |92 attached to the vertical frames 22. Each section also includes a wall |94 which may be welded to the of the vertical frames 22. Sections |86 and |88 may be formed of suitable sheet metal. and are spaced as at |98.

In operation, the forward side of the frame |2 is tilted downwardly beyond the positions of Figures 2 and 3, which brings the rearv frame member 50 to a position considerably above the I stubble to accommodate the windrow. Since the space |52 is located midway between the ends of the sickle bar` |4, the windrows-will beV located centrally 'of the yswath cut by the harvester. Thus the frame or mount 38 may be located centrally of the tractor to which it is connected so that the windrow formed by the harvester will come between the wheels of the tractor.

In making the windbreak sectional so as to provide aspace |98, I provide a window aligned with the space |52 winch permits the operator of the tractor in the rear'of the harvester to make t stepping over the member 50.

rear frame member 50 as well as to the bars |96 76 In arranging the structure such that the windrow is formed intermediate the ends of the frame 2 I provide a construction which Aoperates efficiently in a harvester designed to cut a wide swath. While the harvester may cut a wide swath, the canvases |48, and |50 are relatively short so that none of the c anvases is burdened with a large accumulation of cut grain. Canvases |48 and |50 are loaded with grain cut by a portion only of the cutting reach of the sickle knife, and the grain cut bythe knife in alignment with the opening |52 is dropped directly into that space.

To the frameulZ'I connect shoes 200 which afford protection for the sickle bar |4 and the knife I8, in the event that unusual field irregularities should bring the cutting side of the frame too close to the soil, the shoes would hold the cutting knife out of the soil.V Each shoe is provided with a shield 202. One side of the frame |2, i. e., the grain side, is provided with a dividing board 204 which deiiects the cut grain at that end of the knifeonto the canvas 58 so as to prevent its falling into the standing grain. One shield 202 affords protection for the pitman |44, while the other shield defiects the standing grain away from the vertical bar 30 at that end of the frame.

I claim:

A windrow harvester comprising a mount adapted for connection with a tractor located in the rear thereof, a frame pivotally mounted von said mount and having a grain cutting means,

ends and said belt conveyors moving in opposite directions to carry cut'grain to said windrow opening, each endless belt conveyor having a drive roller, a first sprocket keyed to one of said drive rollers,`a second sprocket keyed to said tractor driven shaft, a drive chain connecting said first and second sprockets, the other of said drive rollers being provided with a first gear, a second gear keyed to said tractor drivenv shaft and meshing with said rst gear to rotate the latter reversely of said first sprocket, a first rotative shaft element, a third sprocket keyed to said rotative shaft element, a fourth sprocket.

keyed to said tractor driven shaft, a chain connecting said` third and fourth sprockets, said elevator having a drive roller, a first bevel gear keyed to said rotative `shaft element, a second rotative shaft element having a second bevel gear keyed thereto and meshing with said first bevel gear, a fifth sprocket on said second rotative shaft element, a sixth sprocket mounted on said frame, a chain connecting said ifth and sixth sprockets, a pinion connected with said iastmentioned drive roller, a second pinion fixedly related to said sixth sprocket and meshing with said 'first-mentioned pinion, a crank member fixed to said iirstrotative shaft element, a crank` shaft rotatably jornaled on said frame and operatively connected with said grain cutting mechanism a work arm operatively connecting J ULIUS OMMODT. 

